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Iterated patterns of brain circuitry (or how the cortex gets its spots)
D Purves1, D R Riddle, A S LaMantia
1Dept of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
Trends in Neurosciences
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Repeating brain circuitry patterns may not be fundamental to function. Instead, these iterated modular units likely emerge incidentally from synapse formation rules in the mammalian brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- The mammalian brain exhibits prominent repeating patterns of circuitry.
- These patterns have led to the view that iterated modular units are fundamental to cortical function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To challenge the prevailing view that repeating brain circuitry patterns are a fundamental principle of cortical function.
- To propose an alternative explanation for the emergence of these patterns.
Main Methods:
- The study presents a theoretical argument.
- It analyzes the implications of synapse formation rules on neural circuit development.
Main Results:
- The observed repeating patterns in brain circuitry are argued to be an incidental consequence of synapse formation rules.
- These patterns do not necessarily reflect a specific demand from the functional organization of the brain.
Conclusions:
- The functional organization of the mammalian brain does not inherently demand iterated modular units.
- Synapse formation rules are a more likely explanation for the prevalence of repeating circuitry patterns.